RBS & Charges

Rider99

Hi all,

Sorry if this has gone before, but searched and couldn't see anything similar.

Anyway - got my current acc. statement from RBS yesterday. WOW! The past couple of months have been very tight at work (i.e. only getting 1/4 normal salary). As a result various direct debits have gone unpaid despite having tried to juggle as best I could.

Basically it's resulted in 10 unpaid items at £38 each time (due to come out of the account next month). A little over the top bearing in mind how much I've been paid. I am considering reclaiming this and all past charges, but wanted to see whether it's worth me writing to them now to request not to make this charge in light of the low income and that I intend to claim for the past few years too. Please put a hold on all charges.

Or is there a better way to play it with them?

TIA
Rider

natweststaffmember

Rider99 wrote: »

Hi all,

Sorry if this has gone before, but searched and couldn't see anything similar.

Anyway - got my current acc. statement from RBS yesterday. WOW! The past couple of months have been very tight at work (i.e. only getting 1/4 normal salary). As a result various direct debits have gone unpaid despite having tried to juggle as best I could.

Basically it's resulted in 10 unpaid items at £38 each time (due to come out of the account next month). A little over the top bearing in mind how much I've been paid. I am considering reclaiming this and all past charges, but wanted to see whether it's worth me writing to them now to request not to make this charge in light of the low income and that I intend to claim for the past few years too. Please put a hold on all charges.

Or is there a better way to play it with them?

TIA
Rider

The bank is not a thinking being. It is a numbers and processes place(not good at the former either ).
I would possibly look at getting another account opened up at another bank not connected to RBS(so NOT NATWEST).
Do you have priority debt arrears(mortgage/rent, council tax, utilities)?

Rider99

Mortgage/rent & utilities have been taken care of for now. Next month I'm due to be upto 3/4 normal pay so the pressure is off a little, but it's just the sheer level of charges that gets me.

I don't know whether best to ask for them to temporarily hold off on charging me as they can see the income only just covers the proposed charges with some change to spare.

Or to say the same but also to advise them that I'm intending on claiming back the charges for the past X years.

Alternatively to say something else totally. Was speaking with the Missus last night, thinking about opening up A&L current account.

natweststaffmember

Rider99 wrote: »

Mortgage/rent & utilities have been taken care of for now. Next month I'm due to be upto 3/4 normal pay so the pressure is off a little, but it's just the sheer level of charges that gets me.

I don't know whether best to ask for them to temporarily hold off on charging me as they can see the income only just covers the proposed charges with some change to spare.

Or to say the same but also to advise them that I'm intending on claiming back the charges for the past X years.

Alternatively to say something else totally. Was speaking with the Missus last night, thinking about opening up A&L current account.

It is absolutely irrelevant to them if you say you will claim back the bank charges cos they have heard that a billion times to be honest.
I would start the process off by requesting a list of charges back to 27th July 2001(if the account has been opened that long). They will in all likelihood acknowledge the claim and it is unlikely to be resolved until the conclusion of the OFT test case issues.

Rider99

Actually had the account since '99 after I graduated and decided I wasn't going to stick with Bank of Scotland for various political reasons.

But is there anything I can do in the mean time to request that they don't sting me for near £500?

natweststaffmember

Rider99 wrote: »

Actually had the account since '99 after I graduated and decided I wasn't going to stick with Bank of Scotland for various political reasons.

But is there anything I can do in the mean time to request that they don't sting me for near £500?

Unless you have priority debts and have never had any charges refunded beforehand(cos if it is the first time you can ask for them to refund it as a one off) then there isn't/

Rider99

Well I haven't requested in the past for no charges to be made as far as I can remember so might chance my arm.

I know I did kick off with them a while back when two separate incidents of incompetence nearly resulted in me losing a flat I was trying to rent. Complaints procedure saw me & the missus have a couple of nights in a luxury hotel in middle of nowhere and my wee boy sorted out with numerous gift vouchers as way of recompense. Hopefully that won't have any bias/influence over their decision.

BTW - thanks for your invaluable advice - much appreciated!